Kane County Receives $70,000 Grant to Support Local Farm Businesses

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The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Illinois State Office has selected Kane County as a recipient of a $70,000 Rural Business Development Grant to support and expand the County's Food & Farm Technical Assistance Program.

Administered by the Kane County Development and Community Services Department, the program provides support to small and midsize farm businesses in rural areas of Kane County.  Services include feasibility studies, business and marketing plans, branding, grant and investment readiness, business expansion assistance, financial and legal services, idea generation, job creation and retention, and broader economic development support.

Since February of 2026, the Food & Farm Technical Assistance Program has helped Kane County farmers collectively secure $152,500 in outside grants to fund projects like a cheese processing facility, a refrigerator truck for produce transportation, and an on-farm cold storage facility for meat.

Agriculture remains a significant part of Kane County's economy. According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, Kane County is home to 509 farms operating across 146,717 acres of farmland, with approximately $284 million in annual agricultural sales.

Farm businesses interested in participating in Kane County's Food & Farm Technical Assistance Program are encouraged to contact Sustainable Agriculture Consultant Ellen Kamps at KsustainableAG@gmail.com to discuss eligibility and available services.

Pictured above from left to right:   

Chris Toth, Kane County Planning Division Manager
Janice Hill, Kane County Land Transfer Navigator
Lesie Juby, Kane County Agriculture Committee Chair
Molly Hammond, Deputy Director of Illinois USDA Rural Development
Jesus Ortega, State Director of Illinois USDA Rural Development
Ellen Kamps, Kane County Sustainable Agriculture Consultant
John and Dana Boswell, Kane County Farmers at Forest Edge Farmstead